Passionate about genetics since he was 12 years old, Pascal Lévêque this year won the prize for the best breeder by Prim’holstein France. One more title for this breeding which nevertheless relies on simplicity, and this after having climbed the first step of the top raw milk classification 2020.
Latvia des Quarante (Kingboy x Meridian), cow of SCEA des Quarante (59), produced several sires known as Nigeria DQ and Norty DQ. (© Alger Meekma)
At 35 years old, it is in all modesty that Pascal Lévêque is awarded his title of best breeder 2020 at the Cow of the Year competition organized by Prim’holstein France. “My cows won, not me. I just continued the work my parents and their partner started years ago, ”he explains.
The SCEA des Quarante, located in the North, nevertheless achieves a fine doublet in 2020 by accumulating first place in the top raw milk with 12,969 l of average and the title of best breeding. He completed this year with 15 cows Lesly Forty (daughter of Commander and granddaughter Shottle ) that ranks 7 th of the cows of the Year, won by Almacombe of livestock Girard Jean-Bernard (25) .
The 15 cows of the SCEA des Quarante (59) entered in the competition:
| Name (section) | Sire / GPM | Milk | TP | TB | MU | NG | Cell | IVV | MU / JDV | Milk / JDV |
| NATIONALITY (1) | Tabasco / Mardigras | 18681 | 30.2 | 40.0 | 1313 | 83 | 24.5 | 508 | 1.09 | 15.5 |
| NAMIBIA (1) | Koning / Kingboy | 16319 | 33.2 | 41.6 | 1220 | 84 | 178.1 | 467 | 1.02 | 13.6 |
| NICOTINE (1) | Galore / Payton Mat | 13689 | 31.1 | 46.6 | 1064 | 76 | 258.2 | 434 | 0.94 | 12.1 |
| LESLY (2) | Commander / Shottle | 28475 | 33.9 | 51.1 | 2436 | 84 | 60.4 | 387 | 1.65 | 19.3 |
| LEBANESE (2) | Order / Meridian | 26112 | 34.2 | 37.1 | 1860 | 84 | 458.7 | 347 | 1.33 | 18.7 |
| LIBYA (2) | Abs Silver / Meridian | 33032 | 30.8 | 39.1 | 2325 | 86 | 132.6 | 482 | 1.39 | 19.8 |
| LATVIA (2) | Kingboy / Meridian | 27447 | 33.3 | 41.1 | 2041 | 85 | 154.1 | 416 | 1.35 | 18.2 |
| LITHUANIA (2) | Kingboy / Meridian | 24515 | 35.7 | 40.5 | 1867 | 84 | 552.7 | 412 | 1.24 | 16.3 |
| LIGHT (3) | Rubicon / Day | 38217 | 31.6 | 39.0 | 2698 | 83 | 197 | 370 | 1.5 | 21.2 |
| ITALY (4) | Mayfield / Tigger The | 58697 | 30.5 | 40.8 | 4181 | 87 | 271.3 | 411 | 1.79 | 25.1 |
| IRISE (4) | Iota / Couscous | 63215 | 33.6 | 47.7 | 5144 | 85 | 97.5 | 418 | 2.17 | 26.6 |
| HASHLEY (5) | Iceman Co / Mickey | 62274 | 32.3 | 41.8 | 4622 | 84 | 124.6 | 379 | 1.8 | 24.2 |
| HELODY (6) | Planet / Mascol | 73322 | 30.8 | 42.9 | 5378 | 83 | 112.7 | 367 | 1.87 | 25.5 |
| FINLEY (7) | Mickey / Marion | 95747 | 32.2 | 42.2 | 7150 | 85 | 159 | 382 | 2.14 | 28.6 |
| GRIOTTE (7) | Gerard / Bolton | 98605 | 31.2 | 41.9 | 7209 | 85 | 215.4 | 386 | 2.16 | 29.5 |
Simple and efficient driving
For Pascal, there are three fundamental pillars in dairy farming: “It is first of all the herd, its genetics but also the management of breeding, the fodder (both in quality and quantity), although it is complicated. in some regions, and herd management. By that I mean the regularity, the requirement, the setting up of processes held over time and efficient. ”
3 UMO (Pascal and 2 employees)
256 ha of UAA (120 ha wheat, 30 ha corn, 30 ha sugar beets, 30 ha flax, 20 ha potatoes, 16 ha meadows , 10 ha canned peas)
90 LV Prim’holstein
12,500 l / LV achieved on average over 2019
Rate: 42/34
210,000 cells on average
Dairy reference: 1,180,000 l (Sodiaal)
If the breeding has seen a dozen cows with more than 100,000 l in its herd, the management is nevertheless very simple: in one and the same batch, only the dry ones being divided into two batches. Pascal does not have a mixer and distributes the ration in the bucket. “I mainly manage the quantities based on refusals,” he explains. I always prepare 5-8% extra rations to make sure they have enough. And that allows me to then give the refusals to the males and dry cows. ”
45 kg of maize
12 kg of pulp
10 kg of wrapping
4 kg of soybeans
1.2 kg of linseed meal
On average 2 kg of feed (LV 3 l with flax)
400 g of minerals
50 g salt
50 g clay
As far as the students are concerned, it’s just as simple: the calves are hay + a store-bought food. They spend 6 months on the ration of heifers composed of straw at will, wrapping of ryegrass / autumn clover (rich in water) and 1.5 kg of complete feed. They only have corn in their ration two months before calving because, as Pascal explains, “corn is used to make milk, not cows. ”
“An almost natural selection of the herd”
It was at the age of 12, participating in an animal sale that Pascal Lévêque set foot in the stirrup. Very quickly fascinated by genetics, he remembers: “My father liked it too, but he didn’t look at the papers, relying only on the descendants. I do and I love it. We were then very complementary. ”
By keeping only the best cows, we arrive after 20-30 years of selection to have a performing herd.“The herd quickly evolved in the right direction. At the time of the quotas, the selection pressure was quite important and was done naturally since only the best cows were kept with the aim of not exceeding the quota. The rate of reform was important. It is also for this reason that we are now at a good level of fertility even though we do not select specifically on this criterion. It’s a rather natural selection. Pascal even stopped the sexed semen three years ago.
However, he keeps insight a few important criteria in his eyes: the legs (being in a straw area), the cells and the overall strength. “My goal is profitability,” he explains. The profitable cow is for me the one that gives a lot while consuming the least (especially on the side of the veterinarian and the inseminator). The perfect cow comes in heat, filled well, and calved well. In fact, we do not know it since it goes unnoticed. And for that, there is no recipe. It is up to everyone to find their balance in their system. ”
His best heifers are genotyped by Genes Diffusion to be collected and produce interesting males (around 35 males sold / year at 10 months). Among them, some well-known from his cows: Luxembourg, Lebanon (his brother), Nigeria DQ or Norty DQ. Last year, the breeder collected about ten heifers but did not do it again this year for lack of time. Yet the breeder remains convinced: “ Genomics is an interesting tool. She showed us some very good cows that we had not necessarily noticed. ”
Born in 2015 on breeding, Luxembourg is one of the outstanding bulls produced by the SCEA des Quarante (59). (© Alger Meekma)
The comment of David Tesson – head of the pointing department and genetic counselor (59-62) Prim’holstein France:
“The genetic level of the SCEA des Quarante herd reflects the objective of Pascal and his father before him: very cows. productive. The herd’s average milk index is 459 kg, well above the departmental average and the rates are not to be outdone. Even more impressive, the milk herd effect is + 4740 kg. The SCEA des Quarante team manages to express the herd’s milk potential in an exceptional way.
Cows give a lot and quickly, but also age, as evidenced by the number of cows having produced more than 100,000 kg in their career. Production has always been Pascal’s goal in his genetic choices. Sticking to it and not dispersing is undoubtedly one of the keys to success in reaching this level. ”
Lift your foot on the milk
On the SCEA des Quarante, the situation has evolved well since the installation of Pascal in 2012. Indeed, if he was at the time associated with his parents and a third party, he is today the sole manager, supported by two. employees. And the situation weighs on him: “ In breeding, there is a dire lack of labor. I run everywhere. ”
And motivation crumbles: “I have a cow in my stomach, that’s for sure! But I can’t stand being 7 days a week in my herd anymore. I was not made to join forces so I rather seek to hire, or even reduce milk production, ”says the breeder.
Pascal sets himself a new goal: to satisfy his passion for genetics by freeing himself up to have time to develop his skills on this subject, “and why not make my expertise available to other breeders …” It is currently being considered. The breeder does not close any doors and is even willing to work outside to live from his passion to the maximum. (It is also open to job offers).
Source: Web-Agri
